German fortifications

[nigelweysom]

during their stay in Guernsey the Germans built a number of fortifications
here are 2 of the towers that they built , one of them was built on top of an existing Martello Tower

[nigelweysom]

THE DEFENSE OF VAZON BAY

Situated on the west cost of Guernsey Vazon bays long stretch of firm sand would have made it an ideal choice had Britain decided to launch an amphibious attack in order to liberate the island from German occupation, in order to prevent this it was heavily fortified with both coastal defenses and covering fire from artillery

The 9th 10th and 12th Artillery positions from regiment 319 were tasked with providing Barrage fire onto Vazon bay , all had 4, 10 cm light field howitzers , 1 ,2cm anti aircraft gun ,and 4 , machine guns 34 and they were maned by between 50 and 77 men , the 12th Artillery position also had a 3.7cm tank gun .

The 10th Army coastal Artillery position from regiment 1205 was tasked with providing Harassing fire onto Vazon bay , it had 4, 15.5cm field guns
3 ,2cm anti aircraft guns , 3, machine guns 34, also 3, heavy machine guns 08, 2 ,machine guns 257, 1, machine gun 311 , 3, mortars,and
3, flame throwers 42 ,

The 15th Army coastal Artillery position from regiment 1265 at the Dollmann Batterie ,were tasked with providing Barrage fire onto Vazon bay , it was maned by 166 men , it had , 4, 22cm field guns , 1, 3.7 anti tank gun, 3, 2cm anti aircraft guns , 1, 3.7cm tank gun , 2, spigot mortars , 2, light mortars , 6, machine guns 34, 2, heavy machine guns 08, 1, heavy machine gun 34 , 2, machine guns 257, 2, machine guns 311, 10 flame throwers 42, and one search light

The Strabburg Batterie was to provide Barrage fire using 4, 22cm field guns and 2,7.5cm field guns , it also had , 6, 2cm anti aircraft guns,
1, 3.7cm tank gun, 2, light mortars , 4, machine guns 34 , 2, heavy machine guns 257 , 4, machine guns 30, and 2, 110cm search lights.

Situated just above the high water mark were 7 , strong points , each one was tasked with defending its position to the last man ,
they were

Fort Hommet maned by 102 men mainly from the army and 6 men from the navy to man one of the search lights , containing 4, 10.5cm casement guns, 1, 4.7cm anti tank gun, 2, heavy machine guns, 4, light machine guns, 1, light machine gun in a tank turret , 1, m19, 1, medium flame thrower , 2, rifle grenades, 4, defensive flame throwers , 2, 60cm search lights, 1, 150,cm search light , 2, very pistols, 4, sub machine guns, 6, pistols, 43, rifles, and 1, projector for star shells .

The martello tower, maned y 14, men with 1, 4.7cm anti tank gun, 2, light machine guns, 1, machine gun in a tank turret , 3, defensive flame throwers, 1, hand light, 1, very pistol, 1, rifle grenade, 9, rifles, 1, pistol, and 1, sub machine gun.

The middle strong point, 15,men , manning 1, 4.7cm anti tank gun, 2, light machine guns, 4, defensive flame throwers, 1, hand held light,
1, very pistol, 1, rifle grenade, 8, rifles, 3, pistols and 1, sub machine gun .

Kings mills, 2, heavy machine guns, 3, 8cm mortars, 2, 5cm mortars , 1, defensive flame thrower, 1, auxiliary light, 1, very pistol, 1, rifle grenade, 15, rifles, 4, pistols and 2, sub machine guns, maned by 25 men

Margion , 24, men , 2, 4.7cm anti tank guns, 2, light machine guns, 6, defensive flame throwers, 1, hand held light, 1, very pistol, 1, rifle grenade, 11, rifles, 4, pistols, and 1, sub machine gun.

Le Crocq 15, men, 1, 10.5cm casement gun , 3, light machine guns, 1, light machine gun in a tank turret , 2, defensive flame throwers ,
1, very pistol, 1, rifle grenade, 11, rifles, 4, pistols, 1, sub machine gun , and 1, hand held light .

Richmond strong point, maned by 66 men, with 2, 10.5cm casement guns, 3, light machine guns, 2, heavy machine guns, 1, 8cm mortar,
1, medium flame thrower, 2, defensive flamethrowers, 2, 60cm searchlights, 1, search light in embrasure , 2, very pistols, 24, rifles,
6, pistols, and 3, sub machine guns ,

this information has been taken from Festung Guernsey which was written by the German forces and contains a comprehensive account of the deployment of all German forces in Guernsey , Festung Guernsey has recently been reprinted as is now available to members of the general public , previous to this there was only one full copy in print , which was held by the states of Guernsey

Nigel

[nigelweysom]

some more pictures of the 22cm gun

[John Odom]

That is most interesting, Nigel. How much of all that is still extant on Gurnsey, and can the public see any of it?

[nigelweysom]

John all of the coastal defences still exist , and the site of the 22cm gun has recently been restored , in fact only this sunday they were firing the gun as a tourist attraction ,
Nigel

[John Odom]

That is great! I wish it were not so far from Chattanooga!

[nigelweysom]

john according to my research its 4,248.2 nautical miles from Chattanooga to Guernsey , plus we don't have any trains , but we do have plenty of cows
Nigel

[nigelweysom]

any body interested in purchasing an unusual property
Nigel

[nigelweysom]

on my recent visit to Jersey i found that this site was open to the public at £2 to enter it was a real bargain
Batterie moltke
les landes
Jersey

situated on the north west corner of Jersey this army costal battery was armed with four 15.5cm medium French field guns of world war 1 vintage ,two heavy machine guns , one light machine gun ,
fourteen defensive flame throwers , and three French machine guns mountede in tank turrets ,
there was one 150cm search light and three 3.7cm Flack 37 guns
manned by the Luftwaffe,
this battery was manned by 100 men



Nigel